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Microsoft India on Monday announced the appointment of Karan Bajwa as the new Managing Director of its sales and marketing group (SMSG) in the country. Presently, Bajwa, is the head of the enterprise business in India and is based in Gurgaon. The promotion of Bajwa as the current India Managing Director Sanket Akerkar, is moving back to the US to take up another assignment in the company.
As the new India sales and marketing group chief Bajwa will report to Bhaskar Pramanik, Chairman - Microsoft India, the company said in a press release. Bajwa has been with the company for over five years, it added. Sanket Akerkar has been with Microsoft Corporation since 2003, and moved to the Indian subsidiary in 2010.
Bhaskar Pramanik, Chairman - Microsoft India said: “In the last two and a half years, Sanket has led the organisation to greater progress across various areas. His deep understanding of enterprises and their needs in an evolving economy, his engagement with our customers and partners, and his commitment to building talent within the company has been truly appreciated. We wish Sanket every success in his next role.”
Welcoming Karan Bajwa to the new role, Bhaskar added, “I am very pleased that we are on the right path to growing talent within the company. Karan is a strong business leader who has always led from the front, and his successes both in Microsoft and prior to that are testimony to this. I am confident Karan’s strategic insights will help continue to grow the business in India.”
According to the company Bajwa's new tenure will begin in July and Sanket will help with the transition until the end of July.
In an additional planned transition, Floris van Heijst, General Manager – Marketing and Operations, Microsoft India, will take up a senior appointment within Europe in July 2013, the company added.
